Writing – MARY CHANG

“The B.C. Covid-19 Collection: 2020 Six Word Art Stories created by voices of British Columbia, Canada”

We asked British Columbians how the C-word affects their lives – the beauty, truth, humour and ugliness. Here’s what they said in six words and more.

A visual story album of how the “C word” has affected our lives in British Columbia. From photographs, artwork, graffiti, personal 6-word stories written from adult perspectives, 6-word news glimpses and community snapshots to document uncertain times.

It takes thoughtful effort, collaboration and imagination to create a project like this. We may have different lifestyles, beliefs and perspectives but we all have stories to tell.

Just like the feature photo story, “Finally time to take our time”, I ask that you please take a reflective moment to read each and every six word story of this project and discover the meaning behind each one.

This is what we saw through our Corona-coloured eyeglasses in our beautiful province of British Columbia, Canada.

Our album opens with Part 1: Six Word Stories with Photographs or Artwork written, created and submitted by adult volunteers of this project.

The feature photograph of this project (black & white photo of girl blowing dandelion puff ball) : “Finally time to take our time.” and the above six 6-word stories were written and photographed by Claudia Ho Lem.

“Peace in the garden; waiting, remembering.” Story & painting created by L.W.

“My eternal love for our elderly.” Story & photo by k.m.

“I just want to hug her.” Story & photo (of Carol’s mother) by Carol Carter.

“Celebrating from afar on joyous occasions.” (on missing the ability to celebrate in person with the whole family) Story & photo by Bruna Lazzano.

“Inner lives blossom. Lives are close.” Story & photo by Mia Logie.

“Good snatched away, hope will triumph.” Story & photo by Gerry O’day.

“Newfound respect for full time parents.” Story & photo by Jeff Winskell.

“Realizing you’re out of toilet paper.” Story & photo by Natalie McMillan.

“Sometimes cheerfulness shows in unexpected places.” Story & photo by Jenny Morgan.

“Retreat, Rethink, Resign, Reset, Rejuvenate, Reverie.” Story & photo by David Geary.

“Just happy to be getting out.” Story & photo by Steve Bush.

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Victoria 2 100603345_2532922740358102_2154848327206699008_n

“Let the outdoor games begin!” “Done!” Story & photos by Victoria.

“No panic. We are here. Now.” Story & photo by Jim Derricott.

“Peace and freedom without Covid 19.” Story & photo by JB.

“Wife’s first haircut? Husband: guinea pig.” Story & photo by Dolores.

“This s**t has driven me to…” Story & artwork by P.B.”

“Covid pictures instead of rainbow pictures!” A mother’s perspective on the subject of her daughter’s recent drawings (depicting the corona virus). Story & artwork, Anonymous.

“Feel great when the body moves.” By Erina.

“Wishing to the star…seeing friends.” Ryo found the first star of the evening and immediately wished upon it to see his friends. Story & photo by Erina.

Above four 6-word stories written by Shaya Sy-Rantfors.

Shay #2 new Screen Shot 2020-05-29 at 11.43.07 AM

Above story & photo by Shaya Sy-Rantfors.

“No work – more time to garden.” Story and photo by Nancy.

“Utter satisfaction – growing my own food.” Story & photo by Jenny Morgan.

“Patience, Family, Challenging, Isolated, Strength, Community.” Story & photo by Michelle Kaltenegger.

“They painted the hearts upside down.” Story & photo by @captphilevans.

“Vision becomes reality – functional, natural art.” Story and table created by Kristen Buckley. Photo by A.B. (Yes, she made this table. It’s an old growth fir sourced from a timber furniture design business in Squamish, designed from a raw slab that started with bark and all! Legs sourced from Ontario and then the slab was sanded and finished with love.)

“A minefield of gratitude and resentment.” Story & photo by CSP.

“Mama. Yes. Mama. Yes. Mama. Yeeeeeeesssss.” Story & photo by Susan Little.

“Hugs overpowering uncertainty, fear and sadness. “ Story & photo by Judith Reyes Metcalfe.

“My loves, delicate balance, life continues.” Story & photo by Anna Parkes.

“Time erases memories. Memories erase time.” Story & photo by Susan Little.

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“From chaos, freedom emerges, commute-free.” Story & photo by Susan Smith Alexander.

“Faith in God is believer’s shield.” Story by Agnes Dalisay. Photo by Sophia Stewart featuring her sister, Raquel Stewart.

“Quarantine yoga. It keeps me grounded.” Story by Christine B. Photo by C.B.

“Finding my sunshine inside and out.” Story by Mary Chang.

Next is Part 2 of our album (during PHASE 1): Photographs documenting what we’ve noticed around our community.

**“Playground.” Photo by Shaya Sy-Rantfors.**

39cadf08-a123-4685-8d33-b95c619002e7 — **“Sidewalk.” Photo by P.B.**

Next is Part 2 (continued) of our album (during PHASE 2): Photographs documenting what we’ve noticed in our community.

PENTHOUSE HAVING FUN SO LAST YEAR 101344958_10158050007326091_886999397013772373_n — Photo by Cecilia Graber Larrea.

Penthouse by Mary IMG_7694 — Photo by KS. Inspired by W.C.

Photo by Natalie McMillan.

“Beauty, truth, humour, ugliness, nature, art.” Story & photo by M.C. (graffiti artist unknown)

Next is Part 2 (continued) of our album (during PHASE 3): Photographs documenting what we’ve noticed in our community.

“Handmade masks on a trusty Pfaff” Submitted by Christine B.

View this post on Instagram

🎵A smile goes a long long way! ⁣ A smile goes a long long waaaay hey hey!⁣ It starts with an “S” right here, and goes a mile to the other ear.⁣ A smile goes a long long way!🎶⁣ ⁣ This is a song I learned in elementary school… It’s amazing how the things we learn at a young age can shape who we are as adults.⁣ ⁣ It’s for this reason I feel blessed to be a part of the Bible Study Fellowship children’s program this year. It was in Sunday school at a church that I first learned about Jesus. ⁣ ⁣ Having Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of my life has given me a peace that surpasses all understanding during this pandemic, and an eternal spring of joy that helps me get through challenging circumstances. ⁣ ⁣ #realjoy #peacefulmind #bigsmiles #mystory

A post shared by Chrissy (@chrissy_chequer) on Aug 31, 2020 at 4:46pm PDT

“A smile goes a long way” Submitted by Chrissy Chequer.

Face masks become mandatory on Transit. (Aug 24/20)

Face masks mandatory on BC Ferries (Aug 24/20) Photo by J. R-M.

“Bye Corona” Two words everyone is hoping for… Photo by MC, artwork unknown.

Lastly, Part 3 of our Album: List of British Columbia and Lower Mainland Highlights During Pandemic, in 6 Word Points:

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau
36th Premier of BC, John Horgan
Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia PHO
Dr. Teresa Tam, Canada Chief PHO
Adrian Dix, BC Minister of Health
Nigel Howard, sign language hero
First death Lynn Valley Care Home (March 9, first death in Canada)
All British Columbia Public Schools Close (March 17)
Community centres, libraries, non-essential services close (March/April)
Spring camps, extra-curricular activities cancelled (March)
Playgrounds, skateboard parks, ski mountains close (March)
Some parks, trails, parking lots close (March)
Beaches, most parks, trails remain open (March)
Restaurants offer take away service only (March/April)
Dental practices offer emergency dental only (March)
Long hair due to salon closures
Social distancing, hand washing, face masks (March)
How Coronavirus took Lynn Valley article (Globe & Mail, March 21)
Local distilleries make free hand sanitizer (March)
Pots, pans, applause at 7pm nightly (for health care workers, March)
“Growing up in Quarantineland” by Margaret Atwood (Globe & Mail, March 28)
Bonnie Henry & Theresa Tam Art Mural (March)
Free online education, fitness, mental health etc (March)
Trudeau sends a message through Lego (April)
Homeschooling begins online with public schools (mid-April)
Parents f*cking hate trying to homeschool (ongoing)
Parents appreciate teachers more than ever (ongoing)
Dr. Bonnie Henry’s John Fluevog shoes (April)
White Caps face-masks to save Aquarium (April)
Government Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
Income Tax filing deadline extended June 1
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) support
Rent, mortgage, student loan financial support
Restrictions ease Victoria Day May weekend
Phase 1 ends May 18 Victoria Day (See Phase 1, BC’s Restart Plan)
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/phase-1
We enter Phase 2 for Covid (ends June 23, See Phase 2, BC’s Restart Plan)
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/phase-2
Cruise ships not welcome for summer (May)
6 people gatherings, still no travel
North Shore Bowling closes for good (after 59 years! due to C-19, June)
Several businesses re-open, others close permanently.
Campgrounds set to reopen June 1
Voluntary return to school June 1
Parents fear making “voluntary” schooling decisions
Part-time school, staggering start hours
Elementary 50%, Secondary 20% – in class
Playgrounds being to re-open June 1
When will this f*cking pandemic end?
Waiting on vaccine to be created.
“Be kind, be calm, be safe.” (Dr. Bonnie Henry’s advice)
Phase 3 to start in June (June 24, See Phase 3, BC’s Restart Plan)
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/phase-3
Non-essential travel and film production resume
Careful travel allowed within the province
US Border non-essential travel remains closed
Many hotels, accommodations, resorts resume operations
Gatherings larger than 50 still banned
Limit the people within your bubble
Continue hand washing, social distancing, cleaning
Face masks mandatory for Translink, BC Ferries (Aug 24)
Schools set to re-open September 10
Phase 4 Conditional on global availability of vaccine
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/phase-4
Ferry passengers can’t remain in cars (during sailings on enclosed car decks, BC Ferries)

The “C Word”: Six Word Story Time Capsules by Our Children

The “C” Word: Six word stories written by children, ages 6-14 to document these uncertain times (a 2020 time capsule snapshot) and the importance of friendship.

Nine years ago, I became a new mother shortly after I moved to the North Shore. The early days of breastfeeding, endless diapers and sleepless nights left me confined to the house, exhausted and — lonely. I was in love with my newborn son, but a piece of me missed part of my previous world, adult companionship.

A few months later, I discovered a local StrongStartBC centre, a free early learning drop-in program in my neighbourhood. (“It takes a village to raise a child”) It was in that bright, welcoming activity-filled room that I formed lifetime friendships with a group of strong, independent, super women and mothers (and a few super dads) over daily cups of hot tea, coffee and freshly baked cheese biscuits. When StrongStart closed each summer, we invited new and familiar families who lived both on and off the Shore to join us for play activities we organized throughout summertime and expanded our village over the years.

We shared tales of wisdom, headache and heartache about the chaos and the joys of raising little ones while our children formed their own playful friendships. Together we hosted play dates, exchanged free babysitting, confided, cried, offered advice, spoke of dreams and fears about parenting. We shared pieces of our inner selves (the humans we were before parenthood) which revolved around fragments of time sketched in between crying babies, toddler tantrums and defiant five-year olds.

It is because we became parents that we became friends the day we all met in that bright sunlit room in Norgate, or were introduced on that first day of kindergarten, or when old friendships revived upon parenthood. That community connection transformed into a foundational piece of our friendship and parenting history.

Over the past five years, a handful of the families moved away from our community to distances as short as a two-hour ferry sailing to as far away as a plane trip to see kangaroos. It’s not often I visit the friends who still live nearby because of our busy lives. Now, it will be much longer before we see each other again or be granted permission to hop on a ferry or book a plane trip to see the others.

We’ve all been faced with the rules of isolation and the notorious “C word.” We can’t visit in person – even if we stand two metres away and may only interact through phone calls and social media. We inevitably pass through time lapses where we don’t attempt to reach out to anyone at all – because we’re overwhelmed with anxiety, fatigue, homeschooling or struggling to remember what day of the week it is.

Here I am nine years later feeling – lonely again, for adult friendship. But today, we hold hands together in spirit because I know we’re all thinking of each other and all of our children.

Some of our kids still play together and I see them grow, while others are “mind’s eye Polaroids” captured at the ages, stages and varying degrees of cuteness of when they last played together or before they moved away – as if they haven’t grown over the years although I’ve seen countless new images of them on FaceBook.

The “C word” affects lives worldwide and it’s clear that during these unsettling times we’re in the midst of making history. Today we’re reclaiming our village that we built nine years ago and reconnecting ourselves through the words of our children across the globe. When our children grow up, it is my hope that they develop similar meaningful friendships that will provide them with the support they’ll need when they become parents, or maybe their playful friendships of today will blossom into adulthood.

I asked the children to write six word stories about how the “C word” has impacted their lives in order to document their emotions, expressions, thoughts, feelings, discoveries and observations during the pandemic and to enable them to share these “six word story time capsules” with their own children someday.

This is what the children of our village wrote:

Caden Age 9 — “The roads are much more quieter.” By Caden, Age 9.

Sampson, Age ?? — “Do I have allergies or Coronavirus?” By Sampson, Age 11.

Magnus Age 7 — “Dino wants to make a friend.” (on missing friendship) By M.R, Age 7.

Magnus Age 7 photo 2 — “Carl found a friend named Dino.” By M.R., Age 7

Griffin Age 6 — Two 6-word stories: “We are making a tree house.” And “Corona virus is stupid and sucks.” By Griffin, actually age 7, because he forgot he just had a birthday!

Griffin Treehouse Age 6 — “Griffin’s Tree House” By Griffin, Age 7.

Ashton Age 9 2 — Three 6-word stories: “I rode my bike alot today.” “I made a bow and arrow.” I like to play Pokemon cards.” By Ashton, Age 9

Sophie Age 9 2 6 word comics — Two 6-word comic strips: Comic #1: “I’m out of t.p.” “It’s working!” Comic #2: “I only got one.” “Oh yes!” By S.R., Age 9.

Sophie Age 9 More than six — Some needed more than six words: “I wish I could play with my friends. I’m sad.” By S.R., Age 9.

“Covid is boring and not fun.” By Isla, Age 9.

“Don’t get to see my friends.” By Rowan, Age 11

Koltyn & Cyanna — By siblings K.S, Age 10 and C.S., Age 12

Dylan 6 words — “Family is every thing you need.” By Dylan, Age 9.

Rose needed more than six words. “I feel awesome to be able to spend more time with family.” By Rose, Age 10 (and a half)

Avery Age 7jpg — Avery told these seven 6-word stories to his mama and she wrote them down for him. “Seven 6-word Stories” By Avery, Age 7.

AnnaAveryDrawCombo — Artwork by mother & son. “What we’ve been doing during Corona” By Anna & her son Avery, Age 7.

Screen Shot 2020-05-01 at 2.55.51 PM — Eli told these four 6-word stories to his mama and she wrote them down for him. “Four 6-word stories” By Eli, Age 6.

Ema Age 11 — “Stay strong and it’ll be okay.” By Ema, Age 11

Ryo Age 7 — “I miss my friends and school.” By Ryo, Age 7

Phoenix Age 7 — “I want to go to school.” By Phoenix, Age 7.

ty age 12 — “I’m locked out of the world” By Ty, Age 12.

Kathrine age 9 — Home, in Pandemic of 2020: “Since Covid19, home became my life.” By Kathrine, Age 9.

Lucas Age 9 — “Find the good in every situation.” By Lucas, Age 9

Screen Shot 2020-04-26 at 10.03.51 AM — “Love can cure people from Corona19” (written in Korean and English) By Siyoon, Age 9

“If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together… there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… I’ll always be with you.”
– Winnie the Pooh

“Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.”
– Woodrow T. Wilson

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”
– Unknown

Featured photograph: “Ready to fight Corona!” (girl in orange jumpsuit) Isla, Age 9. Photo by Jennifer Morgan.

To make a comment or to contact the writer, please visit the
"About the Writer" page or leave a comment below.

Reconnecting with my 1979 Grade 3 teacher featured in “Teacher Magazine” By Mary Chang

This is a story of how I reconnected with my 1979 elementary school teacher after four decades. It describes the emotional connection that transpires between a student and teacher and how it empowers a child to believe in herself, nurture her creativity and follow her dreams into adulthood.

“Reconnecting with my 1979 Grade 3 Teacher, Lindsay Watson” is now published in Teacher Magazine, Jan/Feb 2020 issue. It’s dedicated to L.W. with a nod to the students of Ms Watson’s classroom.

Teacher Magazine: See pages 28-29 here to read “Reconnecting With My 1979 Grade 3 Teacher” by Mary Chang. Jan-Feb 2020 issue

“Taking Steps” Photo by Natalie McMillan

After you’ve read the above story “Reconnecting with my Grade 3 teacher”, I welcome you to take a step back into the past with me to read:

“The 1979 Original Story of LW” by Mary Chang Pg1-2

“The 1979 Original Story of LW” by Mary Chang Pg3-4

1-Lindsay Watson current — “Lindsay Watson” Photo by Billy Woods Photography.

Lindsay Watson, About the Teacher and Artist

GreatStoriesbyMC — “Flashback into 1979 – title page”

If you would like to make a comment about the story “Reconnecting with my Grade 3 Teacher, Lindsay Watson”, please submit it under the “About the Writer” page. You may also send a Letter to the Editor at Teacher Magazine at: teachermag@bctf.ca.

Version 2 — “Words a writer loves to hear”: Handmade and received from L.W. after she read my story, February 2020

Why I Write in Six Words

The first sentence I published appeared in the book “Six Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak by Writers Famous and Obscure.” Famous: Dan Savage, Elizabeth Gilbert and Janice Dickinson. Obscure: Me.

“Six Word Memoirs” tell your truth. To honour Smith Magazine’s theme of “telling a story in six words” and to thank Harper-Collins for publishing my first piece, this is:

“Why I Write in Six Words”

Time flies by when I’m writing.

Keeps my spirit alive and happy.

Finally getting my voice – out there.

Love sound of fingertips on keyboard.

Nothing else matters when I write.

Found my flow, following my bliss.

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The first sentence I published appeared in the book “Six Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak by Writers Famous and Obscure.” Famous: Dan Savage, Elizabeth Gilbert and Janice Dickinson. Obscure: Me.

“Why I Write in Six Words”

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